POLL: In general, which do you prefer--tan skin or pale skin?

 I simultaneously have the prettiest and ugliest skin color.  I am really pale which on one hand is porcelain and beautiful,  but at the same time I look like casper the friendly ghost...or powder.

just wondering.

I've never had a coloring preference, I've been with people from different backgrounds. The one thing I WOULD recommend avoiding though is those spray on tans or whatever they are that leave people with bright orange skin!

Well, I'm super pale, and I can tell you the things I don't like:

Every vein on my body shows, you can see bruises really easily, I have to be ultra paranoid about the sun, and the sight of my bare stomach, could literally blind people.

I've been teased about it all my life, and I'm sure that every person, with every type of complexion has some issue.  It's the same as straight hair versus curly, tall or short, apple pear, blah blah blah.  Everything has it's pros and cons.

I don't have a preference for other people.  I can't tan, so don't have a choice, so I've given up on having a preference for myself either.  :)

Be careful with this thread though... I could see people taking this the wrong way.

Blue.

I hate my pale skin.  Yeah, I could tan, but tanning is so bad for you, and I'd have to do it all the time to keep any kind of color.

Kaffwynn, I have the same problems as you.  Blindingly white legs and you can see the veins in my legs too.

If I had a choice, I'd wish for skin that was a little darker, I think.

ya, its totally not meant to be racist or anything.  i though it might sound more racist if i asked "white people--which skin color do you like better for yourself..."

i am almost like the color of a sunset.  i turn weird shades of purple, orange, and red sometimes, especially whem im cold.  my veins show too, im literally red white and blue.  im also really rosy.  some people really like the porcelain look for themselves and others like a sun kissed look.  i think i might be able to get a tan.  my driving arm (the one that sticks out the window) is more tan than the rest of me.  its just gonna take a while.

also, ive used that fake tan stuff.  i think in order for a person to not look orange they have to already have some kind of natural tan.  it kind of defeats the purposed.

Yeah.  I've come to terms with the fact that I don't tan.  I've spend the last decade and a half trying to get one.  It doesn't work.

Last year I spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica, doing nothing else other than sitting in the sun and reading.  Everyone expected me to come back with a tan.  No, I came back "more beige".  I showed people my "tan" and they just laughed.

Original Post by dnrothx:

Blue.

That is so cool! Though I wish they had included a photograph.

Original Post by jessicasbc:

also, ive used that fake tan stuff.  i think in order for a person to not look orange they have to already have some kind of natural tan.  it kind of defeats the purposed.

That's interesting, though I wonder if you already have to have a tan, then do you really need a spray tan?

Oddly, while orange tans don't appeal to me, dnrothx's link totally does. Dad says I am "cafe con leche", but I want to be a Blue Fugate!

My friend did the spray on tan once and she was pale before hand and looked naturally tanned afterwards...however, the issue she had with it is the spray on tan comes off on white clothes/sheets/and in chlorine.  Gross.

I'm pale and I don't have any complaints. My skin is very sensitive, but I like the way it looks on me.

I can tan if I want to. During the summer I'll get a bit of color from being out in the sun, specifically the beach. I wear A LOT of sunblock (if not I'll burnnnnnnnn), but I actually get a bit of a tan through the sunblock. If for some reason I want to get dark (which one year I did), I can just gradually lower the spf.

I don't have a preference either way, I just think pale is what looks good on me. I always have a bit of color in my cheeks..so I wouldn't say I look like death or anything.  It really all depends on the person. I think natural is best. 

Pale. Pale, all the way. Yes, you have that somewhat creepy blue-vein thing sometimes. But I'll actually say that I've found that attractive before, as strange as it is to type.

Tans can be attractive. Like every #*$9*(*# thing about the human body, it depends on the specific body at hand. There's also a world of difference between darker skinned and tanned.

But, if you told me to choose between tan and pale, without any other facts, I'd pick pale. I'd also say the band of people who look honestly good with tanned skin is much more narrow than that who look good with pale skin.

From a guy's perspective, I definitely prefer fair skinned (never liked the word 'pale').  I never understood the attraction to tanned skin.  I never understood the favor given to blonde hair either.  That's not to slight anyone...

Give me dark hair, fair skin... perfect example - Anne Hathaway

just my opinion...

Original Post by snapshot8d:

Give me dark hair, fair skin... perfect example - Anne Hathaway

 Yes, she's gorgeous! Liv Tyler and Katy Perry are also very pretty.

I really just think it comes down to working with what you got! I think whatever comes natural to you flatters you best. People are all attracted to different things.

My mom naturally has a darker complexion, and I couldn't picture her any other way. If I got a spray tan, I would probably look horrifying.

Lol, I have deep black hair and white skin... Everyone says I look like a porcelain doll. Although I tan easily, which sucks because I can get stuck for months on end with wierd tan lines. xD

I originally have very pale skin (still do and always have) and dark brown hair (often mistaken for black.) At times I've wished I was tan, but I've accepted my fair skin. I remember being a kid outside and I would never even burn let alone tan. Haha. I was just meant to be pale. Even though I have used the fake tanners before and they weren't too bad..just a pain in the arse. Back in old times pale skin was a sign of royalty so I've always thought about that when I was down about being pale. Not to mention those who are fair skinned and don't go out tanning all the time will have less wrinkles when they get older (not always the case, but mostly.) Another plus side to being fair.

Two examples I can think of for being beautiful and fair with dark hair is Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connelly. :)

I have blonde hair (natural actually) and fair skin---I prefer the slightly sun kissed look-but my husband hates it-absolutely hates it- so I haven't tanned in years.  Staying out of the sun has helped my skin "progress" (lol)  gracefully too!  YAY!

blue-white zombie pale I  am.

my hair's naturally black-brown and looks dyed. i don't tan, I burn easily, and I don't care, i like being this pale.

I have a really thin, pale guy friend and he wears a t-shirt that says

"chicks dig pale, skinny guys"

He gets ribbed all of the time for how light his skin is and how blonde his hair is. Wearing that tee is his way of laughing with everyone else.

Original Post by trendstudent:

I have a really thin, pale guy friend and he wears a t-shirt that says

"chicks dig pale, skinny guys"

He's right though, pale skinny guys are hot.

 

I'm proud of my skin; it's so white it's almost luminescent. Looks pretty great with the contrast of my hair colour :)

Hmmm..  I like natural looking skin tone - be it fair, medium, or dark. My skin is 'cafe con leche' as someone else mentioned... in other words, medium toned. I like my natural color and avoid the sun as much as possible. I HATE tan lines and I really, really dislike 'crunchy' looking skin... you know what I mean! the tanned lady from "There's something about Mary".

Another reason I don't like to tan, avoiding the sun has definitely helped with the wrinkles.. I don't have any.